Scammers are going after older adults during this pandemic. I have for you from an Institute on Aging out of Cleveland tips to help you or a loved one avoid Covid 19 fraud.
1. Ignore offers for vaccines, pills, potions, lotions or other products that claim to cure or treat coronavirus. There is currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved cure or treatment for COVID-19.
2. Do your research before contributing to any charity claiming it will help COVID-19 victims. Good sources to check include the Internal Revenue Service site’s Tax Exempt Organization Search and the Better Business Bureaus’s Give.org site.
3. Never click on links in emails from sources you don’t know, especially those claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization.
4. Don’t give your financial information or personal information to anyone you don’t know and don’t trust.
5. If someone you don’t know calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, phone the company’s number listed on its website.
6. If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up.
7. Don’t succumb to high-pressure sales tactics to make an immediate financial decision. Take some time to think about it, check online reviews or talk to trusted friends and family, especially if an offer sounds too good to be true.
8. Before you agree to a free product trial, research the company and read the cancellation policy.
9. Consult with a trusted friend or family member before making a payment for an unsolicited offer.
10. Trust your gut.
No comments:
Post a Comment